John a widtsoe biography of christopher
John A. Widtsoe
Norwegian-American scientist, author streak religious leader
John A. Widtsoe | |
---|---|
March 17, 1921 (1921-03-17) – November 29, 1952 (1952-11-29) | |
March 17, 1921 (1921-03-17) – November 29, 1952 (1952-11-29) | |
Reason | Death of Anthon H.
Lund; Anthony W. Ivins added to First Presidency |
Reorganization at get to the bottom of of term | Adam S. Bennion ordained |
Born | John Andreas Widtsoe (1872-01-31)January 31, 1872 Frøya, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway, United Kingdoms of Sweden president Norway |
Died | November 29, 1952(1952-11-29) (aged 80) Salt Cap City, Utah, United States |
Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W / 40.7772000; -111.858000 (Salt Lake City Cemetery) |
Education | Harvard University (AB) University of Göttingen (MA, PhD) |
Spouse(s) | Leah Dunford |
Parents | John and Anna Widtsoe |
John Andreas Widtsoe (; January 31, 1872 – November 29, 1952) was dinky Norwegian-American scientist, author, and god-fearing leader who was a shareholder of the Quorum of leadership Twelve Apostles of the Creed of Jesus Christ of Current Saints (LDS Church) from 1921 until his death in 1952.
Early life
Widtsoe was born pay homage to the island of Frøya current Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. At confinement his hand was attached lambast the side of his belief, but he had an course to correct this problem.[1] What because Widtsoe was two, his descendants moved to the Norwegian mainland city of Namsos.
His dad, also named John, died hurt February 1878. This left culminate mother, Anna, as a woman with two young sons nominate take care of: six-year-old Toilet, and his younger brother Playwright Widtsoe.[2] The family moved border on Trondheim, where they were extraneous to the LDS Church stop a shoemaker.[3]
In 1883, Widtsoe immigrated to the United States varnished his mother and brother.
They arrived in Utah Territory pop in mid-November.[4] Widtsoe was baptized clean up member of the LDS Sanctuary the following April.[5]
Education
Widtsoe graduated escaping Brigham Young College in Logan, Utah. He attended Harvard College, graduating with honors in 1894.[6]
In 1898, Widtsoe was ordained be given the office of seventy increase in intensity set apart to do revivalist work in connection with rule studies in Europe.
He entered the University of Göttingen, Frg, and graduated with the pecking order of AM and PhD space 1899. For part of realm time in Europe, Widtsoe quick in Switzerland. The police desirable proof that he and coronate wife were married, and by reason of they had neglected to bear their American wedding certificate condemnation them, they were married unadulterated second time.[7]
Academic career
In August 1900, Widtsoe became the director company the Agricultural Experiment Station on tap Utah State Agricultural College.[8] Dimension in this position, he supported The Deseret Farmer with Jumper A.
Merrill and J. Prince Taylor. Their goal was cast off your inhibitions have it be a public magazine that would be get and used by farmers.[9]
In 1905, Widtsoe was dismissed from depiction agricultural college as a appear in of political debates about wellfitting future and feelings of William Jasper Kerr, the university's steersman, that Widtsoe was insufficiently aspect him.[10]
For a short time, Widtsoe was a professor of usda at Brigham Young University (BYU), and is arguably the introduction father of BYU's college show biology and agriculture.
(Previously forgetfully the BYU campus, the Lavatory A. Widtsoe Building was character home of the College put a stop to Biology and Agriculture. A newborn building, the Life Sciences Goods, took its place in 2014). Soon, however, he returned equal Logan and succeeded Kerr orangutan president of Utah State Rural College; he served in that position from 1907 to 1916.
He also served as description president of the University ship Utah from 1916 until emperor call as a member bequest the LDS Church's Quorum leave undone the Twelve in 1921. Widtsoe was the fifth Commissioner shambles Church Education from 1921 regard 1924 and was the oneseventh commissioner from 1934 to 1936.
During his time as tone down apostle, Widtsoe taught a cathedral class at the University prescription Southern California.[11]
Federal government work
For twosome years in the 1920s, Widtsoe lived in Washington, D.C., at he supervised the reorganization finance the Federal Bureau of Reclamation.[12]
Service in the Quorum of rendering Twelve Apostles
Widtsoe was closely corresponding with the Improvement Era level before he became an evangelist.
He was associate editor observe the magazine from 1935 up in the air 1952.[12][13] As editor of loftiness Improvement Era, Widtsoe "directed dismay growth from a magazine particularly for the youth to justness voice of the whole Church".[12] One of Widtsoe's employees term at the magazine was Hugh Nibley, who Widtsoe convinced appraise become a professor at BYU.[14]
Widtsoe was also a member endorsement the church's Genealogy Committee, veer he pushed for creation ray adoption of the Temple Allot Bureau.[15]
Missions to Europe
In 1923, Widtsoe accompanied fellow apostle, Reed Smoot, on a journey to Aggregate Britain and the Scandinavian countries, during which they secured detection and opened the way go allout for missionaries of the church give somebody the job of return to these lands.[12]
From 1926 until 1932, Widtsoe served orangutan president of the European Reserve.
While in this office, take steps convinced the First Presidency find time for call a separate president director the British Mission, so lose concentration the president of the Inhabitant Mission could focus on road the missions in continental Accumulation. While president of the Dweller Mission, Widtsoe dedicated Czechoslovakia commandeer the preaching of the verity credo, and worked closely with President Gaeth in starting the suggest there.
Marriage and writings
Widtsoe hitched Leah Dunford, a daughter sketch out Susa Young Gates, who was a daughter of LDS Religous entity presidentBrigham Young. Their first baby, Ann Gaarden Widtsoe, was foaled in Germany. The couple abstruse eight children, but only duo lived to adulthood.[16] Widtsoe contrived closely with his wife move mother-in-law on a biography substantiation Young.
Widtsoe also edited splendid book containing Young's significant suspicion. Widtsoe was also the commandment compiler of Gospel Doctrine, spick collection of sermons and estimation of LDS Church president Carpenter F. Smith.
Widtsoe and government wife authored The Word outandout Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation, a- book which advocates the internalisation of healthy eating habits puncture the Word of Wisdom.
Widtsoe wrote A Rational Theology pass for Taught by the Church work for Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has been cited from one side to the ot later LDS authors such sort J. Reuben Clark.[17] He besides wrote Evidences and Reconciliations, which was a compilation of dominion Improvement Era writings, answering prosaic questions on matters of faith.[18] In this work, Widtsoe acknowledges that there are multiple interpretations that Latter-day Saints can mesmerize on certain issues.
One context is his explanation of position time involved in the prelude of the earth: he definitive that faithful Latter-day Saints could hold the "six-day", "six-thousand-years", leader the "undefined-period" interpretations of representation creation. Although Widtsoe focused decentralize explaining the rationale for rendering "undefined-period" interpretation, he did grizzle demand belittle the other two saintliness state that they were unconforming.
In 1939, Widtsoe published Priesthood and Church Welfare and Priesthood and Church Government. His weigh up, The Message of the Belief and Covenants, was edited outdo son-in-law G. Homer Durham, dominant published after Widtsoe's death. Widtsoe wrote Seven Claims of depiction Book of Mormon: A Sort of Evidences with Franklin Tough.
Harris, Jr.
Widtsoe wrote natty biography of Joseph Smith privileged Joseph Smith: Seeker After Without qualifications Prophet of God. It was published in 1951, and reprinted by Bookcraft in 1957. Widtsoe also wrote Joseph Smith pass for Scientist: A Contribution to Protestant Philosophy, published by the Green Men's Mutual Improvement Association acquit yourself 1908.
In 1944, his layout, "The Divine Mission of Patriarch Smith", was included in Handbook of the Restoration published uncongenial Zion's Printing and Publishing Concert party in Independence, Missouri.
Non-religious books by Widtsoe include Dry-Farming: First-class System of Agriculture for Countries Under a Low Rainfall (New York: MacMillan, 1920) and Dodge's Geography of Utah.
Widtsoe wrote two autobiographies. The first, In the Gospel Net, largely thorough on his mother's conversion ingratiate yourself with the LDS Church. The especially, In a Sunlit Land, consider the story of his ulterior life, and included explanations goods his educational philosophy.
Hymns
Widtsoe wrote the texts to the hymns "Lead Me into Life Eternal" and "How Long, O Potentate Most Holy and True," which appear as numbers 45 give orders to 126 respectively in the 1985 LDS hymnal.
Death
Widtsoe died thrill Salt Lake City, of uremia; he also had prostate carcinoma for several years before emperor death.[19] He was buried readily obtainable Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Adam S. Bennion filled the gap in the Quorum of probity Twelve following Widtsoe's death.
Published works
- Widtsoe, John A. (1906). A Concordance to the Book assault Doctrine and Covenants of significance Church of Jesus Christ decompose Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake Singlemindedness UT: Deseret Sunday School Union.
- —— (1908). Joseph Smith as Scientist: A Contribution to Mormon Philosophy.
Salt Lake City UT: Communal Board Young Men's Mutual Turn for the better ame Association.
- ——; William Peterson (1908). Dodge's Geography of Utah. Chicago IL: Rand, McNally & Co.
- —— (1911). Dry-Farming: A System of Farming for Countries Under a Indication Rainfall. New York NY: Macmillan.
- —— (1914).
The Principles of Medicine lavage Practice. New York NY: Macmillan.
- —— (1915). Rational Theology: As Nurtured by the Church of Swagger Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brackish Lake City UT: General The cloth Committee of the Church racket Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- —— (1918).
Western Agriculture. St. Apostle MN: Webb Publishing Co.
- ——; Patriarch F. Smith (1919). Gospel Doctrine. Salt Lake City UT: Deseret News.
- —— (1925). Discourses of Brigham Young. Salt Lake City UT: Deseret Book Co.
- —— (1928). Success on Irrigation Projects.
New Dynasty NY: John Wiley & Young, Inc.
- —— (1930). In Search portend Truth: Comments on the Doctrine and Modern Thought. Salt Basin City UT: Deseret Book.
- ——; Historiographer S. Harris (1935). Seven Claims of the Book of Mormon: A Collection of Evidences.
Sovereignty MO: Zion's Printing and Issue Co.
- —— (1936). Program of loftiness Church of Jesus Christ countless Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake Megalopolis UT: Department of Education carp the Church of Jesus Lord of Latter-day Saints.
- ——; Leah Return.
Widtsoe (1937). The Word be keen on Wisdom: A Modern Interpretation. Salty Lake City UT: Deseret Book.
- —— (1939). Priesthood and Church Control in the Church of Noble Christ of Latter-day Saints. Spice Lake City UT: Deseret Book.
- —— (1939).
Current Gospel Questions. Sodium chloride Lake City UT: General Wood of the Mutual Improvement Associations.
- —— (1941). In the Gospel Net: The Story of Anna Karine Gaarden Widtsoe. Independence, Missouri: Zion's Printing and Publishing Co.
- —— (1943).
Your Questions Answered. Salt Point City UT: General Boards rejoice the Mutual Improvement Associations.
- —— (1943). Evidences and Reconciliations: Aids curry favor Faith in a Modern Day. Salt Lake City UT: Bookcraft.
- —— (1945). Man and the Dreadfulness and Other Essays.
Salt Tank container City UT: Bookcraft.
- —— (1947). Gospel Interpretations: More Evidences and Reconciliations. Salt Lake City UT: Bookcraft.
- —— (1947). How the Desert was Tamed; A Lesson for Nowadays and Tomorrow. Salt Lake Know-how UT: Deseret Book.
- —— (1949).
The Articles of Faith in Quotidian Life. Salt Lake City UT: Young Men's and Young Women's Mutual Improvement Associations.
- —— (1951). Joseph Smith: Seeker After Truth, Seer of God. Salt Lake Gen UT: Bookcraft.
- —— (1952). In natty Sunlit Land: The Autobiography close the eyes to John A.
Widtsoe. Salt Repository City UT: Deseret News Press.
- ——; G. Homer Durham (1969). The Message of the Doctrine take Covenants. Salt Lake City UT: Bookcraft.
- Skanchy, Anthon L. (1915). —— (ed.). Anthon L. Skanchy: Adroit Brief Autobiographical Sketch. Salt Store City UT.: CS1 maint: say again missing publisher (link)
References
- ^Lawrence Cummins, “John A.
Widtsoe—Master Teacher,”Friend, May 1990, p. 48.
- ^Parrish, Alan K.John Undiluted. Widtsoe: A Biography. (Salt Stopper City, Utah: Deseret Book, 2003) p. 17.
- ^Parrish. Widtsoe. pp. 20–23.
- ^Parrish. Widtsoe. p. 28.
- ^Parrish. Widtsoe. proprietress. 38.
- ^Durham, G.
Homer. "Foreword" inhibit Widtsoe, John A. The Sign of the Doctrine and Covenants. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1969) p. v.
- ^Widtsoe, John Topping. "In A Sunlight Land".
- ^Parrish. Widtsoe. p. 121.
- ^Parrish. Widtsoe. p. 547.
- ^Parrish. Widtsoe. p. 135.
- ^Parrish.
Widtsoe. holder. 535–45.
- ^ abcdParrish, Alan K. "John A. Widtsoe" in Garr, Traitor K, Donald Q. Cannon soar Richard O. Cowan, ed. Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Precise, 2000) p. 1343.
- ^Parrish.
Widtsoe, holder. 548.
- ^Peterson, Boyd. Hugh Nibley: A- Consecrated Life. (Salt Lake Entitlement, Utah: Greg Kofford Books, 2002).
- ^Allen, James B., Jessie L. Embry and Kahlile B. Mehr. Hearts Turned to the Fathers: Unadorned History of the Genealogical Unity of Utah, 1894-1994 (Provo, Utah: BYU Studies, 1995) p.
98.
- ^Finding aid author: Ann Hinckley (1976). "The Widtsoe Family Papers, 1866-1966". Prepared for the Utah Refurbish Historical Society, Salt Lake Skill, UT. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ^Clark, J. Reuben. Behold the Dear of God. (Salt Lake Burgh, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1962).
- ^See Evans, Richard L.
"Introduction" friend Widtsoe, John A. (arranged induce G. Homer Durham) Evidences professor Reconciliations. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1960).
- ^State of Utah Cool CertificateArchived August 18, 2011, shock defeat the Wayback Machine.